Coach Jerry Bennett returned to his office Thursday at the East Texas campus of Jefferson High, picked up the phone and sorted through the voicemail messages.

One was from San Antonio.

Bennett was only too happy to return the call.

On a busy day, he talked for about 20 minutes to relay some information about one of his former players, UTSA sophomore return specialist Kenny Harrison.

Near the end of the conversation, the older brother of Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett summed up his feelings on Harrison's potential in simple terms.

The coach said that with the benefit of UTSA's strength training, the player that fans see today will not be the same player they'll see in two more years.

“He'll be a great player when he leaves,” predicted Jerry Bennett, a 40-year coaching veteran in Texas.

Hey, Harrison isn't too bad right now.

In the first month of UTSA's second season, the former do-it-all performer for Class 2A Linden-Kildare High has emerged as the Roadrunners' leader in all-purpose yards (312). He has executed difference-making plays in the past two games of the Roadrunners' 4-0 start.

Harrison turned the momentum completely with a play that set the tone for a 38-14 victory at Georgia State on Sept. 15.

After giving up an 84-yard touchdown pass to fall behind by three, the Roadrunners looked up to see Harrison streaking 84 yards with the ensuing kickoff return.

UTSA would score and never look back.

Last week, Harrison got another chance in the first quarter when he fielded a punt, juked one way and then reversed around a group of blockers for a 54-yard return.

The Roadrunners went the final 26 yards in two plays on their way to a 56-3 rout of Northwestern Oklahoma State.

UTSA coach Larry Coker said Harrison's mentality is starting to mirror that of a former Miami great he coached — Devin Hester — who never fielded a kick that he didn't think he could score on.

“Kenny is starting to develop into that type of player,” Coker said.

Harrison isn't Hester. Far from it. He's 5-foot-10 and 165 pounds and runs the 40 in only 4.52 seconds.

But fans who have seen him know he seems to have an innate ability to find open spaces.

Harrison attributes that ability to the way he was coached at Linden-Kildare under Bennett, who emphasized cone drills.

In high school, Harrison played quarterback. He played defensive back. He was a return man.

He accounted for 41 touchdowns as a senior.

“It was really fun to play offense and defense, all over the field, in high school,” he said. “It really helped me coming into (college to) play D-I ball. It helped me knowing what I have to do to make the guy miss.”

Told that Harrison had been itching to actually score on a return for the Roadrunners this year, Bennett said simply, “Don't worry. He'll get it done.”